The next time you board a Metra train, don’t be surprised if one car feels less like a transit tube and more like a café pop-up, because that’s exactly what Metra is testing this fall. The agency has launched a prototype Café Car , rolling it onto rush-hour runs across its busiest lines and asking riders to weigh in on whether this kind of experiment should become a permanent part of Chicago’s commuter experience.

Metra removed the second level in one section of a car and retrofitted it with counters, tables, booths and stools so that riders can sip, snack, chat or work mid-ride. Metra’s leadership says the intention is to improve the rider experience and maybe draw new riders back to the system.

The Café Car runs on the Rock Island Line through October 2 and will later be parked at La

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